About Me

I grew up in West Texas, and could not wait to get away. I got away, and went to the University of Texas, and then on to Stanford. I saw the world, and decided what I really wanted was to be in West Texas. So here I am, right back where I started. I had it all, and found it was not that great.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Nancy

Today's picture was submitted by Betty Hartley. It was taken in about 1910, and shows her grandmother on a horse. The following story was submitted with the photo:

This is my grandmother, Nancy Ellen Baker, Grover King Bond.

She's on her favorite horse, Buttons and wearing a divided riding skirt.This photo was taken near Cook's Peak, New Mexico, approximately 1910.

On her first day in the third grade, her father deserted the family and she had to quit school and become the "man" of the house.She took care of the cattle, goats and horses.Her two oldest daughters had lots of stories to tell about their mama.They said she could pick up a goat by its horns and toss it over the fence.I don't know why that was necessary, but I'll bet that certain goat never messed with her again.

She was married off at the age of fourteen.At the time they lived in a tiny mining town in New Mexico and she said that she thought her only choice in marriage was Grover, or the village idiot, and she made the wrong choice.(That's a quote.)

Grover was mean to their first daughter and would pinch her to make her cry and then spank her for crying.

One day, Grover slapped their daughter so hard he tipped her high chair over.My grandmother reached for the rifle behind the door.Grover Laughed.He had removed the gun first.

When she became "with child" a second time, she wanted to go visit her ailing mother.Jeff would not let her leave.The Ku Klux Klan came to him and told him that he was to let her go visit, or else.(This was in Arizona, and its the only good thing I ever heard about the Ku Klux Klan.No, my grandmother did not know anyone in the Klan.)

She boarded the train with her daughter and never came back.She was only about 17 at the time.

Her two daughters said she could cowboy with the best of them and could wear a man's hat band for a belt.After "cowboying" all day, she rode horseback for miles to the dance at the school house, then rode back home, arriving about dawn.

Years later, she married my grandfather, King, who died of tuberculosis.Many years later, she married Bond, who was killed in a mining accident.

Her mother signed her name with an "X" --- she herself, had a second grade education --- her kids ranged from 8th grade education through high school graduate --- and three grandchildren received college degrees.

This lady was my grandmother too. My birth mother was Mary Daisy Grover. I was adopted at three weeks. I would so like to talk with you. I have done alot of research on Charles Jefferson Grover and have his history back to the late 1700's but my mother's is more difficult to find. I don't know the protocol for sending email addresses, etc. so must rely on your expertise. Sharon Pruhs.

I would like to get in touch with Betty Harley as Nancy Ellen Baker was my grandmother as well. Mary Daisy Gregg was my mother. Would you tell me what info is needed for me to get in touch with Betty. I sent another comment but I don't think it went anywhere. I'm new at this. Thanks, Sharon Pruhs

I have been an avid collector of old photographs and documents for over 30
years. The photographs on this site are derived from material I have collected
over the years. Some came from old family albums, some from material I bought at
flea markets over the years, and some from government archives of public domain
images, including the US Library of Congress, and the National Archives. We
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